Can-filling machine.



No. 860,313. PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

' S. B. MORRAL. I

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPL I OATION IILED NOV. 21, 1906..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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amma WiW SumuelEMorml l 2 4 6 Q a I fi 5? I M; atfozmxao PATENTBD JULY16 1907.

No. 860,313. s. E. MORRAL.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

anwntoz Samuel, E .Morml UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. MORRAL, OF MORRAL, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM W.MORRAL,

OF MORRAL, OHIO.

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

Patented July 16, 1907.

Application filed November 21, 1905. Serial No- 288,451.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. MORRAL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Morral, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Machines;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved machineespecially adapted for filling cans with corn or other vegetables.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings in which I illustrate but one embodiment ofthe inventionFigure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line x.tFig. 2; Fig. 2 is a combined elevational and vertical sectional view thesectional view being through the cooking chamber and on the line y-'yFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the valve that works over the upper endof the can-filling cylinder the valve being in uncovering position; Fig.4 is a similar view showing the valve in covering position; Fig. 5 showsin plan view a detail of the canfeeding. device in the position where ithas moved a can from under the can chute toward the canfilling port, andFig. 6 shows in plan view a detail of the canfilling device in positionto move another can from under the can chute.

In the several views 5 designates the cooking chamber which is ofcylindrical form and stationarily supported on a suitable frame. Thischamber is made with a suitable opening 5 at its upper end through whichthe material to be cooked and canned is supplied thereto. This chamberis also divided horizontally loy partitions 6 having openings 6 forpermitting the discharge of the corn or other material to be cooked froma compartment above to that compartment next below. Extending upwardfrom the exterior and through the longitudinal center of the cookingchamber is a steam pipe 7 provided with radial arms 7 and 7 some or allof which can be tubular and attached to communicate with the pipe 7 andperforated to permit the passage of steam therethrough. These radialarms when not perforated subserve the function of stirring the materialbeing cooked and when perforated for the passage of steam they subservethe double function of supplying the cooking agent to the material aswell as stirring it.

8 designates a trap to catch water of condensation from steam admittedto the pipe 7. This trap is provided with a discharge valve 8 to drawoff accumulated water.

The character 9 designates a pipe through which steam is conductedthrough the trap S to the pipe 7. The pipe 7 preferably has anappropriate ordinary steam-tight swivel connection with the steam trap,not shown but well understood, and it also has secured to it a bevelgear 7 to be engaged by a similar gear 10 on a shaft 10 driven by meansof appropriate sprocket and chain connection from the main operatingshaft 11.

12 designates a canfilling cylinder which is located below butcommunicates with the lower end of the cooking chamber, the upper end ofthe cylinder terminating in a depressed portion 5 of the lower end ofsaid cooking chamber. The cylinder is provided with a reciprocablepiston 12. On the upper side of the depressed portion 5 above the upperend of the cylinder slides a valve plate 13 having a raised portion 13forming a cavity of ovate outline constituting a duct. The larger end ofthe cavity fits over the upper end of the cylinder, while the smallerend thereof extends beyond the end of the cylinder and over a port 5that leads to the exterior of the cooking chamber. When communicationbetween the cooking chamber is intercepted communication between theport 5" and the cylinder is established and when the valve is off theopening at the end of the cylinder the flat part of the valve covers theport.

15 designates a can chute down which the cans are conveniently suppliedfrom the floor above.

16 desigmates a reciprocable can-feeding device for moving the canstoward and under the port 5.

17 designates tracks upon which the cans are guided toward their placeunder the port 5".

The piston is operated by means of an arm 18 loose on a rock shaft 19,but this arm 18 has a spring and rod connection with a short arm 18secured on the shaft 19. These arms 18 and 18 constitute a yielding orflexible lever. On the shaft 19 there is secured an arm 21 that reachesupward and is connected with the can-feeding device 16. Loose on theshaft 19 is a bell crank lever composed of a forked arm 20 and an arm 22that reaches upward and engages a cross bar connecting the rods of thetwo valves 13. On the outer end of the shaft 19 is secured an arm 26 theextremity of which is made with a slot 2G that is engaged by a crankpin-23 on a crank arm 23 that is secured to the rotary operating shaft11. The piston 12 is therefore reciprocated by means of the arm 26 whichrocks the shaft 19. The arms 1818 and 21 are also operated by the arm 26and shaft 19. The tangs or branches of the fork-arm 20 are provided withsuitable antifriction rollers which are acted on by cams 11 and 11 tointermittently rock said fork arm and therefore correspondinglyreciprocate the valves 13.

The stroke of the piston 12, and therefore the quantity of corn fed intothe can, is regulated by an adiustable set screw 18", the flexible lever1818 permitting this. It is obvious that the screw.18 can be adjusted tovary the stroke of the piston while the machine is in operation.

In operation the valve 13 is moved to cover the upper end of thecylinder 12 when the piston 12 moves up and consequently when the pistonmoves in that direction the corn or other material is forced out of thecylinder through the cavity of 13 and into the can through the port 5When the piston 12 moves down the valve 13 is moved off the upper end ofthe cylinder and in its down stroke the piston is followed 'by a freshsupply of material from the chamber above and discharged in the same wayas before into another can that has in the mean time been moved intoposition by the can-feeding device 16.

The cylinder 12 and piston therein, the valve 13 "and the can-feedingdevice are preferably made and operated in pairs so that two cans can befilled at the same time. The shaft 11 is provided with an ordinarysliding clutch 24 and operating lever 24 therefor for applying at willthe power to said shaft. The cylinder 12 is not necessarily circular incross section, hence I do not limit myself to the geometrical meaning ofthat term. The forms of parts in other particulars can also be varied.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a can filling machine, the combination with a yes sel to containthe material to be supplied to cans, a discharge port therein, a canfilling cylinder communicating with the supply vessel at the basethereof and lying below the point of communication therewith, a pistonand its rod working in said cylinder but externally to said supplyvessel, a valve constructed to slide over the end of the cyl- -in(lerand open and close communication between the supply vessel and cylinderand to establish communication between the cylinder and discharge portwhen closing the communication between the supply vessel and cylinder.

2. In a can filling machine, the combination with a vessel to containthe material to be supplied to cans, a dis charge port therein, a canfilling cylinder communicating with said supply vessel, a piston and itsrod working in said cylinder, and a rectilinearly reciprocating valveconstructed to open and close communication between the supply vesseland cylinder and establish communication of the cylinder with thedischarge port, the portion of the valve which cuts off thecommunication between the supply vessel and the cylinderalso containingthe duct for establishing communication between the cylinder anddischarge port.

3. In a can filling machine, the combination with a vessel to containthe material to be supplied to cans, a discharge port therein, a canfilling cylinder communicating with said supply vessel, a piston and itsrod working in said cylinder, and a valve of plate form adapted to openand close communication between the supply vessel and cylinder andhaving a raised portion therein forming a duct to establishcommunication between the cylinder and discharge port when the valve ismoved to close the communication between the supply vessel and cylinder.

4. In a can filling machine, the combination with a yessel to containthe material to be supplied to cans, a discharge port therein, a canfilling cylinder communicating with the supply vessel at the basethereof and lying below the point of communication therewith, a pistonand its red working in said cylinder but externally to the supplyvessel, a rectilinearly reciprocating valve constructed to open andclose communication between the supply vessel and cylinder, the portionof the valve which cuts 0d the.

communication between the supply vessel and the cylinder being providedwith a duct to establish communication be tween the cylinder anddischarge port when communication between the vessel and cylinder isclosed.

5. In a can filling machine, the combination with a vessel to containthe material to be supplied to cans, :1 cylinder communicating with saidvessel, a piston in the cylinder, adjustable means for limiting thethrow of the piston, a flexible lever for operating the piston, saidflexible lever comprising two parts capable of oscillation independentlyof each other, and means in connection with the two parts for permittingone to yield with reference to the other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL E. MORRAL.

Witnesses C .I. SCHULTZ, II. A. De Rociin.

